Mixing apparatus and control valve for use therein



H. HAVEN Dec. 25, 1934.

MIXING APPARATUS CONTROL VALVE FOR USE THEEREIN Original Filed Nov. '11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 25, 1934. H. HAVEN V ,9

I MIXING APPARATUS AND CONTROL VALVE FOR USE THEREIN Original Filed Nov. 11, 1932 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Eizrrgy Far-en,

WITNESSES I ATTORNEY Patented, Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES MIXING APPARATUS AND CONTROL VALVE FOR USE THEREIN Harry Haven, Baltimore, Md.

Application November 11, 1932, Serial No. 642,294

' Renewed November 5,1934

10 Claims. (01. 225-21) This invention relates to improvements in fluid mixing apparatuses, and its objects are as follows:

First, to provide a portable, self-contained mixing appartus for beverages such as are commonly consumed in the home, at soda fountains, etc., which apparatus is so arranged as to produce a thorough commingling of the carbonic acid gas with the beverage by the mere act of opening the faucet thereby avoiding the necessity of shaking; rolling or otherwise handling the apparatus for the purpose of agitating the beverage and gas to thereby induce the mixture.

Second, ito provide "a relatively small-sized portable jug or similar beverage container having an attached pressure flask and valve mechanism for causing a gas and beverage commingling operation with every opening of the faucet.

Third, to provide a particular type of control valve to serve the needs of the foregoing apparatus, said valve acting automatically to let in additional pressure fluid from the flask or other source both to supply the mixing nozzle and to create a static pressure in the container on top of the beverage.

' Fourth, to combine the control valve with th valve casing of Patent 1,845,660, February 1'7, 1932 to Harry Haven, for the purpose of preventing the seepage of carbonated water into the lower valve chamber and therefore to keep said chamber dry.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which portable mixing apparatus.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the upper part of the apparatus, particularly illustrating the valve mechanism.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 particularly showing the movable stem and carried guide.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 particularly showing the relatively stationary stem guide.

Figure 5 is a partial side elevation and section of the mixing apparatus of Patent 1,845,660, particularly illustrating the use of the control valve in conjunction with the lower valve chamber.

Figure 6 is a diagram of a portion of the fluid circulating system of a mechanical refrigerator ...illustrating the use of the control valve therein.

The improved mixing apparatus is so proportioned and generally arranged as to make it 55 readily portable in order to meet an increasing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved demand for supplying carbonated beverages upon occasions wherein soda fountains and the like are not accessible. Such occasions arise in the home, at social gatherings of various kinds such as smokers, parties, picnics, etc. In order to meet 5 uses such as these the apparatus is made of a relatively small size, that is to say of a size which,

'when compared with soda fountains and similar intallations, finds the apparatus reduced to suchproportions that a person can readily carry it 10 when filled with aselected beverage for short distances from one place to another.

A particular thing in view is to produce a thorough commingling of the carbonic acid gas with the beverage, this being done automatically by 15 the opening of the faucet. This does not mean that the mere act of opening the faucet produces the commingling, but that the opening of the faucet establishes a fiow of the gas in such a way that it is compelled to impregnate the beverage 20 and deliver the latter with an extremely high percentage of gas. It is of particular importance to observe that this function is accomplished while the apparatus is in a static condition, that is to say while it is stood on a table or other support. 25 It is unnecessary to roll, jog, shake or otherwise move the apparatus with a view to agitating the liquid andpressure fluid contents. I

With these brief observations in mind attention is directed to the drawings. The container 30 1 is to be regarded as of any desired description.

It may consist of a jug of suitable design, and is of a size that will not render the apparatus too heavy when the jug is filled. In practice the jug is equipped with a handle or handles (not shown) 86 which will make it easy for a person to pick up the entire apparatus and carry it from place to place.

This container has a filling opening 2 (Fig. 1) which is capped at 3. The cap is a screw cap and 40 when it is screwed home it must make a gas-tight joint. A pressure fluid flask 4 is carried by the container. This flask is usually separable, being removably attached to the container by a strap 5 which carries a clamp device 6 somewhere in 46 its length.

The removability of the flask 4 is not essential to the invention. Removabilityis merely an item of convenience. In practice the flask can be embodied in the container 1 by providing a spaced 50 wall. The space can be filled with pressure fluid about as easily as the flask can be filled with pressure fluid with the added advantage of there being nothing on the side wall of the container to interfere with its symmetry.

A valve '7 controls the passage of pressure fluid with respect to the flask 4. The pressure fluid is herein regarded as consisting of carbonic acid gas. This gas will be forced in until there is a pressure of anywhere from five to one hundred pounds. The valve 7 will be opened wider in proportion to successively lower fluid pressures in the flask 4. In other words, if the flask contains fluid under high pressure the valve 7 will be opened a little, whereas if it contains fluid under low pressure it will be opened more. The particular setting of the valve 7 is a matter of practice, and the person operating the apparatus will adjust the valve to meet the particular situation.

A flanged nipple 8 extends from the valve 7. When the assemblage is complete as in Figure 1 this nipple serves as part of the means for coupling the valve 7 with an arrangement which is collectively called a valve mechanism. This mechanism is designated 9. The remainder of the foregoing means comprises a coupling nut 10 and threads 11 on the outer end of the valve carrier 12 of a valve body 13. When it becomes- 'at the other end. This carried guide is fluted,

and the gas is able to pass through the flutes of the guide 17 and the spaces of the spider 14.

A spring 18, situated between the twoguides tends to keep the disc 16 engaged with a seat 19 on the inner end of the carrier 12. The tightness with which the disc 16 will engage the seat 19 will depend on the opposite spring and gas pressures. If the gas pressure in .the flask 4 is twenty pounds, a relatively light spring 18 will enable an easy opening of the valve disc 16. A heavier spring 18 will resist an opening of the disc 16 under the same pressure condition. The guides 14, 17 keep the stem 15 centralized with respect to the bore 20 and will also keep the valve disc 16 centralized with respect to the chamber.

21 in the valve body 13.

This body has a threaded end 22 into which the carrier 12 is screwed. The screw connection enables the valve to be taken apart. The particular valve referred to by this statement comprises the parts 12, 13. This is the control valve which has been mentioned before and which will be mentioned again. The control valve has only one element of the valve mechanism 9.

A pipe 23 leads from the chamber 21 to the interior bottom of the container 1 near which it has pin holes 23 for the escape of the gas. This gas settles on top of the beverage and provides a static pressure. The pipe 23 is usually aflixed to the container, and the control valve is attached to it by means of the coupling 24. A lateral outlet 25, leading from the chamber 21, is coupled at 26 with the body 27 of a needle valve 28. This body and valve comprise the second unit of the valve mechanism 9.

An extension 29 of the body 2'7 terminates in a nozzle 30 which has a radial orifice 31. This orifice communicates with the internal passage 32 of the valve body 27, and the purpose of the needle valve 28 is to so regulate the size of this passage as to increase or diminish the outflow of pressure fluid at the orifice 31.

This orifice is in axial opposition to a liquid discharge pipe 33. This pipe goes nearly to the bottom of the container 1 (Fig. 1). Its purpose is to conduct the beverage from the container 1,

by force of the pressure fluid on top of the bevof liquid into the mixing chamber, occurs only when afaucet36 (Fig. 1) is opened.v This faucet is connected with the mixing chamber, and it lets the mixture out.

The purpose of opposing the outlet 34 (Fig. 2) with the oriflce 31 is to confront the approaching stream of liquid with a jet of pressure fluid direct fromthe flask 4. The oppositely directed streams will produce a turbulence in the region of the outlet 34 and orifice 31 so that there will be a thorough commingling of the carbonic acid gas with the beverage. This commingling occurs upon opening the faucet 36 and immediately prior to the delivery of the beverage to the consumer. There is noopportunity for a gasifled liquid to stand in the container 1 with the inevitable result of a separation of the gas from the liquid so as to necessitate an agitation of the container for a re-mixing of the elements.

Thus far it will be understood that the operation of the apparatus is as follows: Pressure fluid admitted to the chamber 21 (Fig. 2) by the valve disc 16 bubbles through the pin holes 23 and settles beneath the top of the container 1 and exercises a static pressure on the beverage contained thereby. As long as the faucet 36 remains closed there will be an equality of fluid pressure in the uppermost reaches of the system. The pressure in this system will be slightly lower than the fluid pressure in the flask 4 for the reason that when an equilibrium is neared the spring 18 having a tension of its own, will close the valve disc 16. As the beverage in the container 1 is consumed the valve disc 16 will open from time to time and restore the pressure condition in the container system.

Now assume an opening of the faucet 36. The fluid pressure inside of the container 1 will drive the beverage up the pipe 33, through the chamber 35 and out of the faucet. The ensuing diminution of pressure in the container system will enable the valve 16 to open. This lets in fresh gas direct from the flask 4, this gas finally flowing through the oriflce 31 where the jet meets the oncoming stream of liquid and produces the thorough commingling of the two constituents as already stated.

The operation is readily understood. Pressure fluid initially admitted to the container 1 from the flask 4, or other pressure fluid source, by the valve 7 escapes at the pin holes 23 (Fig. 1) bubbles through the beverage and accumulates beneath the top of the container where it exercises a static pressure on the surface of the beverage. This pressure stands ready to drive the beverage up the discharge pipe 33 and into the mixing chamber 35 the moment the faucet 36 is opened.

This opening of the faucet reduces the internal pressure. It stands to reason when the static pressure fluid drives the beverage up the pipe 33 there will be a diminution of pressure in the container system. This condition having occurred the valve 16 will immediately open so as to let in fresh gas from the source 4.

This gas will go through the chamber 21, the various passages of the needle valve add finally escape at the orifice 31. Here it meets the rising stream-of beverage, and since the gas jet and beverage stream are under pressure it follows a most intimate commingling will occur at the outlet 34, passing on therefrom through the chamber 35 and out at the faucet 36.

Upon closing the faucet pressure fluid will continue to flow in from the flask 4 until a pressure equilibrium is nearly established. The spring 18 will then close the valve 16. Pressure fluid will collect on top of the beverage as before ready to drive it out of the pipe 33 upo the next opening of the faucet 38.

The control valve, comprising the carrier 12, body 13 and their immediately carried parts plays the part of an automatic governor between the container 1 and flask 4. In addition to this function the control valve also serves as a check valve when combined with the valve casing 3'7 of the mixing-apparatus 38 (Fig. 5) most of the details of which will be found in the earlier Haven patent already identified.

This apparatus, (Fig. 5) was found in practice to collect carbonated water in the lower valve chamber 39. There was a return seepage of this water from the mixing chamber 40 of that patent by way of the intake conduit 41. This conduit. conducts gas to the mixing chamber after having been let into the chamber 39 from the gas pipe 42 upon an opening of the diaphragm valve 43.

Now consider the control valve in this combination. In place of coupling the conduit 41 directly to the casing 3'! or, perhaps more properly stated, with the lower valve chamber 39, said conduit 41 is coupled at 24 to the body 13 of the control valve, the latter being thus interposed between the conduit and the lower valve chamber 39. By bearing the internal valve structure its use in conjunction with a mechanical refrigerator. In Figure 6 the compressor 44 is to be regarded as the fluid compressor of the "Frigidaire" mechanical refrigerator. It may be regarded as the compressor of any other similar .mechanical refrigerator. The refrigerating system includes a coil 45 in which a fluid is circulated by the compressor. By affixing the axial outlet of the valve body 13 to the head of the compressor and the coupling nut lo -to the retum' side of the coil 45 the valve disc 16 will serve to admit a full flow of the returning fluid yet absolutely check any opposite flow into the coil 4 in the wrong direction. I

I claim:

l. Mixing apparatus comprising a liquid container and a discharge pipe leading from the a valve mechanism situated between saidsource faucet and. including other means for discharging a jet of fluid into the liquid flowing in the pipe prior. to its reaching the faucet.

2. Mixing apparatus comprising a liquid container, two pipes entering the container and terminating at a point near the bottom, a source of pressure fluid, a valve mechanism having a chamber with which the outer ends of both pipes communicate, said mechanism including a valve disc which is openable to admit pressure fluid to one of the pipes from which said fluid escapes for seti tlement on top of the liquid to provide a static pressure, and a faucet which is openable to enable a liquid discharge from the other pipe by force of said static pressure, the avenue of communication of said other pipe with said chamber comprising a needle valve with a minute oriflce in axial opposition to said other pipe.

3. Mixing apparatus comprising a liquid container, a source of pressure fluid, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of said fluid to the container, two pipes communicating with said mechanism andleading to the interior bottom of the container, one of the pipes supplying fluid for settlement in the interior top of the container in static pressure on the liquid, said liquid sealing the pressure fluid from escape through said one pipe, meansito release the static pressure fluid enabling the latter to drive the liquid up the other pipe, and a needle valve orifice included in said valve mechanism, confronting the outlet of said other pipe for delivering fluid from the I valve mechanism at the fluid pressure of said apparatus portable, a pressure fluid flask and means for removably attaching the flask to the container, a faucet which is'openable to let out the liquid, and a valve mechanism situated between the flask and container admitting the pressure' fluid to the container as a propellant and also impregnating the liquid with gas upon opening the faucet.

5. Mixing apparatus comprising a liquid container, a pressure fluid flask carried by the container, means to enable a flow of pressure fluid through the liquid and to let the liquid flow out at said means, and a valve mechanism connected between the flask and container directing a part into the flowing liquid prior to reaching said means.

6. Mixing apparatus comprising a liquid container, a pressure fluid flask, a valve mechanism carried by the container, said mechanism including a spring-seated valve disc, means by which said flask is removably connected to a part of said mechanism and thereby-with the container, and a faucet which is openable to relieve internal pressure and let out the liquid, said valve disc automatically unseating by flask pressureto ad- I mit more pressure fluid for putting the liquid under fluid pressure. s

'1. Mixingapparatus comprising a liquid container, valve mechanism carried by said container, said mechanism including the following parts, a pair of pipes entering the top of the container and terminating near the bottom, a valve body coupled with one of the pipes and having a lateral outlet, a -valve carrier connected with said body, a movable valve element in the carrier, a body opening in the direction of said one pipe, a pressure fluid .flask joined with said carrierv the uid being adapted to open the valve element and enter said one pipe for settlement in the interior top of the container on top of the liquid, a

needle valve arrangement connected with the lateral outlet and having an oriflce confronting the outlet 01' the other pipe, a mixing chamber with which said oriflce and the outlet of the other pipe have common communication to produce a mixture of liquid and pressure fluid, and a iaucet connected with said chamber for letting the mixture out.

8. Mixingapparatus comprising a liquid container, a liquid discharge pipe extending from the container near its internal bottom and terminating in a mixing chamber at its outer end, a pressure fluid flask, a valve mechanism connected between the flask and the container, said mechanism including means for directing pressure fluid into the container to rise to the top of the liquid" and drive the liquid through the discharge pipe into the mixing chamber and including means for meeting said llquidwith a jet oil pressure fluid, and a faucet connected with said mixing chamber, the opening of the faucet inducing the simultaneous flow of pressure fluid into the container liquid and into the discharging liquid.

9. Mixing apparatus comprising a liquidcontainer, a mixing chamber connected with said container, a source for supplying pressure fluid both to the container and mixing chamber, a

faucet connected with said chamber being p nable to induce the diverse flows of fluid, and a valve mechanism through which said flows occur, said mechanism including a valve element, a valve carrier with a seat, and means for yieldably engaging the valve element with its seat.

10. A control valve comprising a valve carrier and a valve body, means by which the carrier and body are separably connected, said carrier having a bore and the body having a chamber, at least one outlet from the chamber for the egress of pressure fluid, means on the carrier enabling connection with a source of pressure fluid to supply stem. said means comprising a fluted guide on the stem and a spider in the bore, and resilient means fltted between the guide means tending to keep the valve element on said seat.

HARRY HAVEN. 

